To read between the lines is to search for the meaning behind something that’s not apparent on the surface. I find that I read between the lines when something doesn’t make sense, when something sounds like a contradiction or is completely false.
I might pause and then double back to read the passage again. And if I catch something that sounds like a euphemism or sarcasm, I’ll read the book more closely–search for the underlying meaning in the work.
I find that this happens more often than not in non-fiction books rather than in fiction. In fiction, I’m not questioning the validity of the story, rather, judging the story on its own merits. The message of the story is told through the narrative itself, which boils down to the conclusion. Whether I agree with it or not isn’t the point. The point is that the message (or moral) is clear, and so I’m not reading really read between the lines.
But in a non-fiction book, I’m analyzing it more closely because the writer is proving an idea, making the case for an argument. They might list a page full facts to make their case, but does it follow that their conclusion is valid? Or is there a flaw in their premise, and therefore, the conclusion isn’t true?
When we read between the lines, we have to look at the subtleties–the underlying message behind the words. It’s easy to be mislead if we’re not reading closely. Reading between the lines really means knowing what’s going on.
Fallton Havenstonne 